4 Ways the Right Leadership Drives the Digital Transformation

A few weeks ago, I outlined six pillars that are essential for successful digital transformation. This week, I continue the series by focusing on the important role leadership—specifically executive leadership—play in driving a company forward. Yes, in my view, leadership drives digital transformation. So why are so many companies doing it badly?

Case in point: In an article for Forbes last year, it was found that the majority of tech initiatives fail when the CEO is not involved. My question: if they weren’t involved, where were they? You can have the right tech, employees, and culture in place, but if you don’t have the right leaders, your company isn’t going anywhere. So, let’s take a look at the ways the top leaders are doing digital transformation right and how leadership drives digital transformation.

How Smart Leadership Drives Digital Transformation

Six pillars. Five traits. Three tips. I know: the lists of advice can become exhausting. So, rather than looking at this as another list of things you need to do, think of it as some simple inspiration for helping your company do digital transformation better. Remember: leadership drives digital transformation. Thus, they are a key part of that inspiration.

The best leaders don’t sit on the sidelines.
When we talk about how leadership drives digital transformation, we need to recognize that the CEO shouldn’t just be in it for the ride, they need to be driving the car! Leaders should be proactive and on the lookout for processes, technologies, opportunities for automation, and everything in between, that can help their companies grow for the better. Research from Forbes Insights shows 90 percent of global companies today have launched some type of digital transformation initiative. Is your company one of them? Your customers don’t care how dirty you get making their user experience and customer experience (CX) better. They just want to reap the benefits. So, get out there—get your hands dirty. Learn what technology is available in your industry, and others.

They remain true to their vision.
Sure, technology will change. But your company’s values and vision should never waver. As a leader, you should bring order to the chaos of digital transformation by providing a clear and solid foundation of values that everyone in the company—including yourself—uphold. As long as the technology fits into those values—and you can communicate their purpose accordingly—you’ll be a long way toward driving digital transformation success. (After all, you should only be adopting new technologies that truly support that vision and values.)

They think big.
Who do you think performs better: companies that constantly seek new and better ways to use technology to serve their customers, or companies that rest on the “same old same old” to keep them in the black for one more budget year? There is no mistaking it: your leaders need to be thinking bigger and grander than anyone else in the company—and they need to be able to communicate those big ideas to their teams and board members so they can build, create, and support as necessary. Don’t just follow the digital transformation crowd—lead it! And beyond that, create a culture that rewards the same big thinking from everyone, bottom-up. This is one of the ways leadership drives digital transformation.

They drive their workforce forward.
Who would you rather follow: someone who refuses to face the light of digital transformation, or someone who saddles up, gathers his teams, and excitedly heads into digital battle? Of course, the latter! Leadership drives digital transformation because the digital marketplace is all about new growth and new markets. The right leaders won’t look at transformation as something that has to be done, but as something the company is enabled and empowered to do to serve customers better.

Lastly, since we’re not officially counting, I’d like to add: the best leaders are honest about the CX their company is providing, and they keep CX at the forefront of their digital transformation plans. After all, digital transformation isn’t just here to help your companies cut paychecks faster or onboard new hires more efficiently. Ultimate it’s here to change and expand your connection to your customers, and the way in which they perceive and value your company. To truly lead digital transformation, leadership can’t put their head in the sand. They need to come face to face with where they are—where their customers need them to be—and what it will take to get there. After all—their customers aren’t waiting for them to board the train.

Daniel Newman is the Principal Analyst of Futurum Research and the CEO of Broadsuite Media Group. Living his life at the intersection of people and technology, Daniel works with the world’s largest technology brands exploring Digital Transformation and how it is influencing the enterprise. From Big Data to IoT to Cloud Computing, Newman makes the connections between business, people and tech that are required for companies to benefit most from their technology projects, which leads to his ideas regularly being cited in CIO.Com, CIO Review and hundreds of other sites across the world. A 5x Best Selling Author including his most recent “Building Dragons: Digital Transformation in the Experience Economy,” Daniel is also a Forbes, Entrepreneur and Huffington Post Contributor. MBA and Graduate Adjunct Professor, Daniel Newman is a Chicago Native and his speaking takes him around the world each year as he shares his vision of the role technology will play in our future.

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